Chapter 18

Jason

M orning finds me in an odd state.

I'm at peace. That's what is strange about this whole situation. I am actually at peace. Content with being here, in my bed, with Audrey. It's a fleeting moment, and I know that. Danger lurks in every corner, even with my high-level security and precautions. We will never be able to be together and be completely safe until we resolve this Abramovic issue, one way or another.

I had hoped that my heart would find a woman with less baggage than mine, but the universe saw fit to laugh in my face. I wouldn't want any other woman except this blonde-haired, blue-eyed Russian goddess currently sleeping in my arms, warm and soft and naked under the covers.

Her heart beats against my ribcage, head resting on my shoulder.

Her breathing is nice and even. She's in a deep sleep, and I hate to wake her. But I have to. Judging by the sheer amount of sunlight pouring through the window, it's late in the morning, and her phone has been buzzing nonstop.

"Audrey," I say softly at first. She doesn't hear me, so I gently caress her bare shoulder and say her name again. "Audrey."

She stirs awake, head popping up first to briefly check her surroundings. It's a trauma response, and it breaks me to see her this way. Yet as soon as she remembers where she is, as soon as she feels my body next to hers and her hazy eyes find mine, Audrey relaxes, allowing herself a lazy smile. "Good morning," she says, then moves in for a kiss.

I welcome her lips on mine, giving us both a few minutes of slow and tender making out before we get out of bed.

"I'm going to make some coffee," I say as we come out of the shower. "I think you should eat something, too."

"Where are Lily and Rita?" Audrey asks. Slipping into one of the t-shirts and yoga tights she left in a dresser drawer the last time she was here, she looks more at ease in this space than ever before. It's as if she is truly home for the first time. "I didn't hear them at all this morning."

"You didn't hear anything this morning," I chuckle as I put on a pair of pants and let Audrey follow me into the kitchen. "Lily's in school, and Rita is running some errands, so we've got the penthouse to ourselves for a few hours."

She settles by the counter island while I get busy on the espresso machine. "Oh, can you make mine a decaf, please? All this stress … I really don't need to add caffeine to it."

"Are you sure?" I ask, giving her a curious look.

"Yup," Audrey replies with a flat smile. Maybe I'm paranoid, but I still feel like there's something else she's not telling me. Whatever it is, it won't beat the Bratva princess tale, that's for sure. But I oblige and brew her a decaf, letting her choose her favorite syrup for some extra flavor before she adds steamed milk into the mug. "My gosh, it tastes delicious."

"I made a friend at the coffee shop downstairs and got him to order me a few bottles of what they use in their menu. It has definitely changed my coffee-drinking experience." I pause as I get my espresso brewing as well.

The silence that follows isn't uncomfortable, but it is filled with things unspoken. It's calm enough to fool us into a slight sense of security yet tense enough to make the hairs on the back of my neck prick up with every deep breath that I take.

"I miss my students," Audrey says with a heavy sigh as she gazes out the window. "I can't go back there anytime soon. I'm glad they were able to find a long-term sub to take my class for the rest of the year."

"I am truly sorry, Audrey," I reply, joining her by the counter. "Have you spoken to your brother yet?"

"No," she says. "I saw plenty of missed calls from him, but I was so miffed that he didn't pick up when I actually needed him that I just texted back, telling him I was safe and not to worry about me. He's got enough on his plate."

"You shouldn't push your allies away, especially after what happened last night."

"I don't know, Jason. Sometimes, I wish I could just disappear. Maybe then they would all leave me alone."

"That's not going to happen, either. Whether we like it or not, there's an obstacle standing in our path to peace and happiness. We need to remove it together," I say and kiss her lips gently. "You're not going to be dealing with the Bratva, or anything else for that matter, on your own. I hope you understand that by now."

Audrey gives me a worried look. "You have your daughter to look out for, Jason. I appreciate the gesture, I do, but Lily comes first. You're definitely right about that."

"She and Rita can take an extended holiday to visit Rita's family in Nebraska for a couple of weeks," I declare, texting my secretary and asking her to handle the arrangements. The entire trip itself, including flights and anything else that might need booking, permissions from the school principal, and so on. "They'll be far enough away and out of harm's way. I'll arrange for Lily to do her schoolwork virtually due to a family emergency. If the Chicago Bratva wants to come for me, they're more than welcome to try."

"Jason, they're heavily trained and ruthless bastards. But so were Andrei and Yuri. What happened at the hotel last night, oh, God …"

The horror imprinted on her face only serves to charge me up even more. "You seem to forget who you're speaking to."

"I'm not forgetting anything. I know your military history. But they're—"

"Baby, I am not going to war with the Chicago Bratva. That's not what I'm saying at all. But we can't cower in fear, either. There needs to be a conversation, first and foremost. I suggest we speak to your brother again. The two of us, together."

Audrey raises a skeptical eyebrow. "I wouldn't bet on Anton to untangle this situation for us. The Fedorov's credibility was partially shot to crap when Grigori's princess of a daughter—that would be me—ran off into the night. Anton told me about the issues they've been having after you left yesterday. The rumors, the unrest. And now, with the Abramovic Bratva looking to muscle their way back into New York, well, the sharks caught the scent of blood in the water."

"We should talk to him, nonetheless. The more support you have from your brothers, the better."

"How do you think we should handle this, then?" Audrey asks. "Because I have no idea. I either go back to New York and let my family protect me, or I leave Chicago and start fresh somewhere else. Those are the only two options I see. And neither one feels right. I don't want to leave you."

She's about to cry, so I pull her in for another kiss, eager to reassure her. I taste the coffee on her lips, the subtle hint of hazelnut lingering between us. "Audrey, you're not going anywhere. We're going to deal with this together."

"How, Jason? You don't know these people; you don't know what they're capable of."

"Oh, I've got a clue, considering what happened the first time they tried to take you," I say, trying not to let my anger get the better of me. "Believe it or not, Audrey, even the Bratva has its weaknesses. We just need to find them. Keep in mind, they will never be above law enforcement or the military."

"There are hidden interests here," she grumbles and lowers her gaze. "The local authorities let them run their shady businesses because a lot of money goes into a lot of political pockets."

"We need to find the Abramovic family's limits. They have to draw the line somewhere, and I bet your brother Anton can help us with the details."

"Okay, I'll call him back," she says and reaches for her phone.

A heavy knock on the front door has us both still as statues for the longest second. Audrey looks at me with fear in her eyes.

"Are you expecting anybody?" she whispers.

I shake my head. "No. Go in the bedroom and lock the door."

"Jason—"

"Do it."

A moment later, Audrey dashes out of the kitchen and runs into the bedroom to hide. As soon as I hear the lock clicking, I head to the front door and look through the peephole. It's Anton. I breathe a sigh of relief and open the door, only to realize that he's not alone. And the look on his face tells me this isn't going to go well.

Standing next to Anton is an older man with similar features. He's in his early sixties with close-cropped white hair and a flurry of fine lines surrounding his cool, blue eyes.

I can see where Audrey and Anton get their icy aesthetic from. The man is well-dressed in a dark grey suit custom-tailored to fit his tall, muscular frame. By comparison, he seems like a titan next to his mortal son.

But it's the four goons they've brought along with them that make my blood run cold.

"What is this?" I ask, keeping my voice down.

Every muscle in my body feels tense, and my senses tingle in the presence of undeniable danger. No matter what happens next, I have to protect Audrey from both Bratvas. No matter what. The elder man puts a hand on Anton's shoulder, prompting Audrey's brother to give me a nervous half-smile.

"Pardon the intrusion," the elder man says in a thick Russian accent. "But I believe you have something of ours."

Anton smiles apologetically. "I tried to keep the old man out of it, Jason, but—"

"But nothing," his father cuts him off with a sharp tone, then looks at me with smiling eyes. "I'm Grigori Fedorov. You must be Jason Winchester."

"I am. And I don't recall inviting any of you over."

"Like I said, you have something of ours, and I'd like it back now," Grigori replies.

"By ‘it,' you mean your living, breathing daughter? I'm sorry, she's not in right now," I shoot back.

Grigori scoffs while his goons come closer. Only now do I see the holstered guns on their leather belts and the cold, deadly glares they're wearing, especially for me. I could try and take them on, but I'd be outnumbered. My guns are in the living room safe. Even if I do try to get to them, I won't make it in time. One of these fuckers will shoot me first.

The inability to do anything in order to protect Audrey becomes painfully, stingingly clear. However, I can't bring myself to accept it. My honor demands that I try something. Anything.

"Mr. Winchester, I understand that you have genuine affection toward my daughter, and I respect that," Grigori says. "But Chicago clearly is no longer a safe place for her. I've come to take Audrey home, where she belongs."

"Mr. Fedorov, Audrey left New York for a reason," I insist. "You should respect your daughter's wishes."

"And you should stay out of family business," Grigori warns, his tone sharp and definite.

His goons inch closer as if placing an underline under what Grigori just said for special emphasis. I look at Anton with genuine confusion—the man I see now is not the man I met yesterday—but then I realize that he's no longer in charge when Grigori is around. Anton is cold and calculating, confident and charming, but when his father steps into the picture, he's clearly second in command. With his power diminished, he can't do a thing without Grigori's permission.

"I thought you were going to help your sister," I remind Anton.

"I am helping her. She'll be safe in New York while we negotiate with Arkady Abramovic," he replies.

"Arkady Abramovic?" I ask.

"The firstborn and de facto leader of the Chicago Bratva," Grigori cuts in. "I'm told his father has taken ill. For the past couple of years, Arkady has been pulling the strings in this city, and he's the one who has his sights set on my daughter. I will handle the negotiations while Anton and Vitaly will make sure their sister is protected."

"From what I understand, this Arkady prick is only coming after Audrey because he wants to take a bite out of your turf," I say, raising my chin in defiance.

"It's none of your business," Grigori snaps.

"Anything pertaining to Audrey is my fucking business."

Anton sighs deeply. "Give it up, Jason. He's going to take Audrey away. There's no stopping that."

"Wanna bet?" I hiss as the four mooks barge into the apartment, slamming into me like linebackers.

I try to fight them off, but I'm met with ironclad blocks and an elbow shot that damn near tears my jaw off. I curse under my breath and try again, but Anton is compelled to intervene, shoving me against the wall. He whips out a gun and presses the muzzle against my temple. "Don't move a fucking inch, or I swear to God I'll shoot you," he whispers. "Don't make it worse."

"Fuck you!" I growl.

The four goons go through the living room and kitchen first, then wander through the hallway until they find the master bedroom at the far end. Grigori stays back, hands casually resting in his pockets as he looks at me. "Mr. Winchester, I suggest you calm down. No one can protect Audrey better than me," he says.

"Why are you doing this, Anton?"

"It's not like I had a choice. I tried to go under the radar, but there was always the risk of Papa finding out," he says in a low voice. "Don't move, Jason, I'm serious. Stop fighting this. Audrey's safety is paramount."

"How in the hell is she going to be safe with the very people she ran away from?"

The men burst through the bedroom door, and Audrey screams. I'm compelled to struggle and help her, but Anton's gun reminds me that I can't move. Not without getting my brains blown out, anyway. I don't know these people, but Audrey did warn me that they are ruthless fuckers, especially when Grigori is present.

The man is a fucking menace, and I can see that clearly now. He's a psychopath, a man who thrives when everyone around him is deathly afraid yet still reveres him like a god.

"LET ME GO!" Audrey screams as she struggles, but she is no match against four massive bodyguards.

They quickly slap a pair of cable ties around her wrists and drag her out of the bedroom. Fury takes over, the fury of a helpless man, as I have no choice but to watch as they take my woman away. Audrey tries to reach out to me, but they hold her back and gag her, apparently for good measure. I'm roaring on the inside, burning up as the blood flashes hot through my veins.

The horror in her eyes stabs my heart.

"I'm sorry," I manage as I watch Audrey get carried out of my home, the one place where she thought she'd be safe, the one place I promised her would be safe. "I'm so sorry."

"Hello, sweetheart," Grigori briefly salutes his daughter as they take her away, then pauses at the door. "I'd advise you to keep your distance, Mr. Winchester. I have plenty of bullets to spare if you try to intervene. I implore you to think about your own daughter."

I freeze, suddenly reminded of precisely how fucking dangerous this man is. It's an impossible situation.

My survival is everything if I'm to do anything to help Audrey in the future, and my daughter needs a father. I'm torn and inwardly raging, yet all I can do is try to measure my breaths and try not to lose control.

"I don't care who you are. If you threaten my family again, I will show you who I am, Mr. Fedorov, and trust me when I say you have no idea who you're dealing with."

"Nor do I wish to find out. So why don't we just go our separate ways?" Grigori replies although I can tell from the look in his eyes that he is quickly starting to realize that he may have underestimated me. "It's better for everyone."

"Not for Audrey, it isn't."

"Audrey is no longer your concern," Anton tells me. "Protect yourself and your daughter. My sister is with her family now."

Grigori leads the way out, and Anton lets go of me with one final warning glare—I need to keep my distance. That's what he's telling me in the absence of words. I give him a slight nod, but I'm sure he can tell I have no intention of letting them take Audrey back to New York by force.

Anton leaves and closes the door behind him.